PARISH NOTES
Sunday 8 January 2017
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| The Baptism of Christ, 10th century mosaic Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice |
FROM THE RECTOR
The Feast of the Baptism of Christ, kept on the First Sunday after the Epiphany, reminds us that at the beginning of his earthly ministry, the sinless Lord received the Baptism of John in order to identify himself with the fallen human race he had come to save. In receiving John's Baptism, he transforms it, making Baptism itself the means by which are identified with him, as members of his Body, the Church. Just as the Holy Spirit descends upon him at his Baptism, empowering him for his ministry, so the same Spirit descends upon us at ours. We do well, then, to make this Sunday an occasion of remembering our own Baptism and recommitting ourselves to keeping our Baptismal Vows and Promises.
-- Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
First Sunday After the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Year A
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Monthly Requiem – for the departed of this parish whose year’s mind falls during January will be offered tomorrow, Monday 9 January at 6 pm (preceded by Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm.) If you have any names to add to the list of those remembered, please email Fr. Alexander or Fr. Yost.
Nominations Committee – candidates for the following positions have been nominated for election at the Annual Parish Meeting on January 29, 2017: one vestry member (four-year term): Zachary Painter; two Diocesan Convention Delegates (one-year term): Richard Noble and Frank Pisaturo; two Diocesan Convention Alternates (one-year term): Phoebe Pettingell and John Chamberlin; Clerk of the Vestry (one-year term): Phoebe Pettingell, and Treasurer (one-year term): George Ryan.
Annual Meeting – Please join us on Sunday 29 January, after the 10 am Mass for the 179th Annual Meeting of the parish. We need volunteers to bring food and beverages, and someone to manage the food setup. Please contact Cory MacLean in the parish office if you can help. All are welcome and invited to attend, although only active adult parishioners in good standing may vote. (If you have questions about your status as a parishioner, please ask Fr. Alexander. According to the canons of the Episcopal Church adults are 16 years old and older.)
Parish Sponsorship of The Living Church — We need some generous individuals to step forward and help fund S. Stephen’s contribution to the fortnightly Episcopal magazine The Living Church for 2017. Published in Milwaukee with a national circulation, The Living Church provides a venue for responsible reporting and serious theological and spiritual reflection on the Church's life and mission in the world today. For an annual contribution of $3,000 we receive mention in each issue as a sponsoring parish, with a write-up in one issue describing our parish’s life and ministry. In addition to this great publicity, we also receive a bundle of copies to distribute in the narthex. Owing to our need to streamline expenses, we can no longer make our contribution from the parish operating budget, and instead are relying on the generosity of parishioners and friends. $1,500 has already been pledged towards our contribution for 2017; we can meet our goal if, say, two more people contribute $750 each, or three people $500 each, or even fifteen people $100 each. If you are moved to help in this worthwhile endeavor with any amount, please contact Fr. Alexander.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Avis, Virginia, Martha, Donald, Townsend, Norman, John, Shannah, Peter, Sister Carolyn, Michael, Richard, Mark, Michael, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Stephanie, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, John, Ed, Shane, Jan, Richard, Jerry, Joel, Sandra, Emily, Beverly, Yolanda, Angela, Bobby, Sally, Carlos, Loretto, Rhoda, Ned, Michael, Henry, James, Michael, Peter, Weldon, Dianne, and Elizabeth.
Birthdays this week – Joan Gordon (11 January), Jason Connell & Zachary Painter (13 January).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Chester Arthur Files, Jr. (8 January 2013), John Francis Hall (9 January 1990), Margaret Ethel Worthington. (10 January 1991), and Harry Johnson (12 January 2007)
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Church of Kuching - (South East Asia): The Rt. Rev’d Bolly Lapok and Assistant Bishop of Kuching - (South East Asia): The Rt. Rev’d Solomon Cheong Sung Voon; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of Church of the Epiphany, Rumford.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC R Noble; SD S Brazil; Thurifer F Pisaturo; Crucifer Painter; Torches C Sylvia, DO Latimer
Lector – T Oakes
Ushers – TBA
Coffee Hour – Cathy & Tom Bledsoe
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 14 January
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 8 January
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY:
THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Sung Mass 10 am
Daily Office & Mass Lectionary -- Week of the Baptism of our Lord – I Epiphany (Year One)
Monday 9 January
Feria
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Requiem Mass 6 pm (Black)
Tuesday 10 January
William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1645 (R)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 11 January
Feria (G)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 12 January
Aelred, Abbott of Rievaulx, 1167 (W)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 13 January
Hilary, Bishop of Poiters, 367 (W)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 14 January
Kentigern (Mungo), Bishop, Missionary in Galloway, Founder of Glasgow, 612 (W)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Sunday 15 January
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (W)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass with Holy Baptism 10 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (15 January)
Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A
